Multi-Membrane Microphone for High-Amplitude Audio Capture

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are apparatus, method, and computer program product whereby a device receives an acoustic signal. In response to the received acoustic signal, the device outputs electrical signals from a first input audio transducer and a second input audio transducer. The second input audio transducer is less sensitive than the first input audio transducer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relategenerally to improvements in audio capture/recording of high amplitudeaudio signals.

BACKGROUND

Various abbreviations that appear in the specification and/or in thedrawing figures are defined as follows:

ADC analog to digital converterASIC application specific integrated circuitdB decibeldBFS decibel full scaleDSP digital signal processingECM electret condenser microphoneEMC electromagnetic compatibilityGnd groundL/R left/rightMEMS micro electro-mechanical systemPDM pulse density modulationSNR signal to noise ratioSPL sound pressure levelsVdd supply voltage

Audio-visual camcording is one of the most common uses for a mobiledevice with multimedia capabilities. Advances have been made withrespect to the visual capturing components. Customer expectations havein turn risen in regards to the quality of video recordings, however theaudio components including both capture and playback have lagged behindthe visual side. This may be especially problematic when capturing videoevents that have high sound pressure levels (SPL). The internalmicrophone of the mobile device can saturate easily when trying torecord high SPLs, which are also frequency dependent. The recorded audiosignal can result in heavy distortion and compression which influencesthe overall audio quality.

Audio distortion may also occur in windy environments. The movement ofair across a microphone element of a mobile device may generate unwantednoise. This unwanted noise may reduce the intelligibility of the audioand force a user of the mobile device to terminate a phone callprematurely.

Currently some mobile devices with multimedia capabilities fail toprovide sufficient audio capture in a high SPL environment. The qualityof audio capture often depends on the microphone arrangement andmicrophone design. One possible arrangement involves implementingmultiple microphones on a single base as is shown in FIG. 1, which is areproduction of FIG. 3A of US Patent Application Publication US2007/0047746 A1. The microphone system shown in FIG. 1 has a base 130,and a plurality of substantially independently movable membranes 120secured to the base 130. Each of the plurality of membranes 120 forms avariable capacitance with the base 130. Thus, each membrane 120effectively forms a generally independent, separate microphone with thebase 130.

Another possible arrangement involves a direct digital microphone thatis constructed of a plurality of first membranes 220 each formed by amicro-machined mesh supported by a substrate 270. This is shown in FIG.2, which is a reproduction of FIG. 3 of US Patent Application.Publication US 2003/0210799 A1. A second membrane 210 and a plurality offirst membranes 220 are located in two different positions. Theplurality of first membranes 220 is comprised of individual firstmembranes 260. The second membrane 210 is supported by a substrate 270and positioned above the plurality of first membranes 220 to form achamber 230 between the plurality of first membranes 220 and the secondmembrane 210. A pressure sensor 240 is responsive to pressure in thechamber 230. Drive electronics 250 are responsive to the pressure sensor240 and control the positions of the plurality of first membranes 220.Polling electronics 250 are responsive to the positions of the pluralityof first membranes 220 and produce a digital output signal.

SUMMARY

A first embodiment of the invention is a method comprising: receiving anacoustic signal; and in response to the received acoustic signal,outputting electrical signals from a first input audio transducer and asecond input audio transducer, where the second input audio transduceris less sensitive than the first input audio transducer.

Another embodiment of the invention is an apparatus comprising: asubstrate; a first input audio transducer mounted over the substrateconfigured to output an electrical signal from an acoustic signal; and asecond input audio transducer mounted over the substrate configured tooutput an electrical signal from the acoustic signal, where the secondinput audio transducer is less sensitive than the first input audiotransducer.

Another further embodiment of the invention is a method comprising:receiving an acoustic signal; in response to the received acousticsignal, outputting an electrical signal from an input audio transducer,where the output from the input audio transducer follows a normalsensitivity path and a high amplitude path; and outputting electricalsignals from both the normal sensitivity path and the high amplitudepath on one pulse density modulation stream, where the electrical signaloutput from the normal sensitivity path has a higher decibel full scalelevel than the electrical signal output from the high amplitude path.

Another further embodiment of the invention is an apparatus comprising:an input audio transducer configured to output an electrical signal froman acoustic signal, where the electrical signal passes through a normalsensitivity path and a high amplitude path; and circuitry configured tooutput electrical signals passed through both the normal sensitivitypath and the high amplitude path on one pulse density modulation stream,where the electrical signal output from the normal sensitivity path hasa greater decibel full scale level than the electrical signal outputfrom the high amplitude path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached Drawing Figures:

FIG. 1 reproduces FIG. 3A of US Patent Application Publication US2007/0047746 A1, which shows an example of an arrangement of microphonemembranes.

FIG. 2 reproduces FIG. 3 of US Patent Application Publication US2003/0210799 A1, which shows a further example of an arrangement ofmicrophone membranes.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified block diagram of various electronic devicesthat are suitable for use in practicing the exemplary embodiments ofthis invention.

FIG. 4 is a logic flow diagram that illustrates a method, and the resultof execution of computer program instructions, at the device inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of this invention that employ twoinput audio transducers.

FIG. 5 shows the block diagram of FIG. 3 implemented onto a mobiledevice.

FIG. 6 shows an example of how data may be output from a microphonesystem that comprises the electronic device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a logic flow diagram that illustrates a method, and the resultof execution of computer program instructions, at the device inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of this invention that employs twosensitivity paths from a first audio input transducer.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a configuration of a device with twomembranes.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a configuration of a device with onemembrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The two arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as in correspondingUS Patent Application Publications 2007/0047746 A1, and US 2003/0210799A1, lack any mention of a desensitized membrane. Furthermore, thearrangement in regards to FIG. 1 contains four membranes. Also, thearrangement in regards to FIG. 2 is focused primarily on stackedmembranes. In addition neither of these arrangements account forpotential wind noise.

In one exemplary embodiment of this invention, there are at least twomembranes with one membrane being desensitized as compared to the othermembrane. Neither of these membranes need be stacked, and thearrangement allows for the recording of audio at high SPL levels withoutsaturation. There is a higher noise floor of the desensitized membraneand thus a smaller SNR.

Exemplary embodiments of this invention allow for operation of a mobiledevice during noisy conditions such as those due to wind, traffic, acrowd, etc. Previously a high-pass electrical filter was implementedbetween a microphone capsule and an ASIC in order to allow foroperations in windy conditions. This, however, is an imperfect solutionfor at least three reasons: 1) the microphone output signal is oftenalready saturated by wind noise, 2) the demands of preferred audioquality in non-windy environment require the high-pass filter to be setat a point which will still pass a large proportion of the wind noise,and 3) this strategy is not possible with digital microphones. Attemptshave been made to use DSP circuitry to clean a windy signal from amultiple array of microphones but they have had limited effectiveness.

In an exemplary two-membrane embodiment of the invention detailedfurther below (e.g., FIG. 8), each membrane has a different sensitivityand each outputs a separate signal. In an exemplary implementation whereonly the signal from the less sensitive membrane has an acceptabledistortion level, only that signal is selected for further processingand the other signal (which may be overly distorted due to signalclipping as the high-amplitude sound field exceeds the full scale outputof the membrane and ADCs) is disregarded/dumped. Additionally, there mayalso be a high pass filter on one or both signal paths which can beselectively activated based on wind noise levels. The filter on thesignal path that is continued may be activated to further reduce windnoise in some instances where the signal is additionally distorted inthis way.

Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the problem of sounddistortion and compression in the recording of audio in a high SPLenvironment, and when operating a mobile device in noisy conditions.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 for illustrating a simplified block diagramof an exemplary embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 3 a device 5includes at least a first input audio transducer, also referred toherein as a first membrane 10, a substrate 30, circuitry such as an ASIC40, wire bonding 50, a grounded EMC shield, and an acoustic hole 70. Thedevice 5 may also contain a second input audio transducer, also referredto herein as a second membrane 20. Both the first membrane 10 and thesecond membrane 20 are configured to transduce audio, such as anacoustic signal, into electrical signals.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show two different and exemplary membrane configurationsthat can be implemented into device 5. In FIG. 8, an acoustic signal ispassed through both the first membrane 10 and the second membrane 20.The second membrane 20 has a lowered sensitivity as compared to thefirst membrane 10, meaning that the second membrane has a lower maximumSPL threshold. The first membrane 10 and the second membrane 20 bothoutput electrical signals. These electrical signals are then passedthrough amplification stages 12. The amplification stages 12 may includesignal processing. The amplification stages 12 may be contained in theASIC 40. The resulting signals are then sent to an ADC, such as sigmadelta modulator 13. The sigma delta modulator 13 encodes high resolutionsignals into lower resolution signals using PDM. The sigma deltamodulator 13 may be contained in the ASIC 40. The sigma delta modulatormay output the electrical signals which it receives from both the firstmembrane 10 and the second membrane 20 on the same output PDM stream13A. A switch may be implemented between the outputs from both of themembranes and ASIC 40 to allow for switching between the output from thefirst membrane 10 to the second membrane 20 or vice versa. The switchingmay be performed by user input or automatically via circuitry such asASIC 40.

In FIG. 9, an acoustic signal is passed through the first membrane 10and follows a high amplitude path 21 and a normal sensitivity path 11.The high amplitude path 21 contains amplification stage 12B and thenormal sensitivity path 11 contains amplification stage 12A. Bothamplification stages may contain signal processing. The resulting signalvia the high amplitude path has a lower dBFS level than the normalsensitivity path. A dBFS level is the decibel amplitude level of asignal. The signals from both paths pass through an ADC, such as sigmadelta modulator 13, where both of the signals are output on the same PDMstream 13A.

FIG. 6 shows the PDM stream 13A with two different data, one data on thefalling edge and a different data on the rising edge. These twodifferent data may correspond to the output from the first membrane 10and the second membrane 20 or the output from the normal sensitivitypath 11 and the high amplitude path 21.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the first membrane 10 and the second membrane 20may be mounted over a substrate 30. A high pass filter 25 may be placedbetween each of the membranes and the ASIC 40. The high pass filter 25allows for additional noise suppression and its placement between themembrane(s) and the ASIC 40 is optional. In a non-limiting example thehigh pass filter 25 is set to approximately 500 HZ for example, and isswitchable between an active filtering state in which it filters theaudio signal (e.g., when distortion is seen to exceed a presetthreshold) and an inactive state in which the signal passes throughunfiltered. At 500 HZ, a majority of unwanted noise may be removed, thusimproving intelligibility of the output signal. The high pass filter 25may be implemented as an integrated circuit, or may be constructed fromthe design of a front-to-back acoustic leak around a membrane, or by acombination of both. The substrate 30 may also have a back-plate toconnect to the device 5. The first membrane 10 and the second membrane20 are connected to the ASIC 40 via wire bonding 50. The ASIC 40 isconfigured to condition and digitize the output signal from the firstmembrane 10 and/or the second membrane 20. The ASIC 40 may also includeDSP circuitry. The DSP circuitry may be used to identify when wind noiseis present on the output signal of the first membrane 10. The ASIC 40 isconfigured to switch between the first membrane 10 and the secondmembrane 20 in order to output signals absent distortion or noise. Thegrounded EMC shield 60 surrounds the ASIC 40 to prevent electromagneticdisturbances. The acoustic hole 70 is a channel between the firstmembrane 10 and the second membrane 20 and a sound source.

The exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented at leastin part by computer software executable by the ASIC 40 of the device 5,or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 (device 5) implementedinto a mobile communication device such as a user equipment UE 17. TheUE 17 includes a controller, such as a computer or a data processor (DP)17A, a computer-readable memory medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 17Bthat stores a program of computer instructions (PROG) 17C, and asuitable radio frequency (RE) transceiver (shown generally as a RF chip41) for bidirectional wireless communications.

In general, the various embodiments of the UE 17 can include, but arenot limited to, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs)having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers havingwireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such asdigital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gamingdevices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage andplayback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internetappliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, as well asportable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of suchfunctions.

The computer readable MEM 17B may be of any type suitable to the localtechnical environment and may be implemented using any suitable datastorage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flashmemory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices andsystems, fixed memory and removable memory. The DP 17A may be of anytype suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one ormore of general purpose computers, special purpose computers,microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors basedon a multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

FIG. 5 illustrates the UE 17 in both plan view (left) and sectional view(right), and the invention may be embodied in one or some combination ofthose more function-specific components. The UE 17 has a graphicaldisplay interface 21 and a user interface 22 illustrated as a keypad butunderstood as also encompassing touch-screen technology at the graphicaldisplay interface 21 and voice-recognition technology received at thedevice 5. A power actuator 26 controls the UE 17 being turned on and offby the user. The exemplary UE 17 may have a camera 28 which is shown asbeing forward facing (e.g., for video calls) but may alternatively oradditionally be rearward facing (e.g., for capturing images and videofor local storage). The camera 28 is controlled by a shutter actuator 31and optionally by a zoom actuator 32 which may alternatively function asa volume adjustment for the speaker(s) 34 when the camera 28 is not inan active mode.

Within the sectional view of FIG. 5 are seen multiple transmit/receiveantennas 36 that are typically used for cellular communication. Theantennas 36 may be multi-band for use with other radios in the UE 17.The operable ground plane for the antennas 36 is shown by shading asspanning the entire space enclosed by the UE 17 housing though in someembodiments the ground plane may be limited to a smaller area, such asdisposed on a printed wiring board on which the power chip 38 is formed.The power chip 38 controls power amplification on the channels beingtransmitted and/or across the antennas that transmit simultaneouslywhere spatial diversity is used, and amplifies the received signals. Thepower chip 38 outputs the amplified received signal to theradio-frequency (RF) chip 41 which demodulates and downconverts thesignal for baseband processing. The baseband (BB) chip 42 detects thesignal which is then converted to a bit-stream and finally decoded.Similar processing occurs in reverse for signals generated in the UE 17and transmitted from it.

Signals to and from the camera 28 pass through an image/video processor44 which encodes and decodes the various image frames. A separate audioprocessor 46 may also be present controlling signals to and from thespeakers 34 and the device 5. The graphical display interface 21 isrefreshed from a frame memory 48 as controlled by a user interface chip51 which may process signals to and from the display interface 21 and/oradditionally process user inputs from the keypad 22 and elsewhere.

Certain embodiments of the UE 17 may also include one or more secondaryradios such as a wireless local area network radio WLAN 37 and aBluetooth® radio 39, which may incorporate an antenna on-chip or becoupled to an off chip antenna. Throughout the UE 17 are variousmemories such as random access memory RAM 43, read only memory ROM 45,and in some embodiments removable memory such as the illustrated memorycard 47. The various programs 17C are stored in one or more of thesememories. All of these components within the UE 17 are normally poweredby a portable power supply such as a battery 49.

The aforesaid processors 38, 41, 42, 44, 46, 51, if embodied as separateentities in the UE 17, may operate in a slave relationship to the mainprocessor 17A, which may then be in a master relationship to them.

Note that the various chips (e.g., 38, 41, 42, etc.) that were describedabove may be combined into a fewer number than described and, in a mostcompact case, may all be embodied physically within a single chip.

The ASIC 40 of device 5 may be implemented into the user interface chip51 instead of the microphone device 5.

The exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented inmicrophone systems, including but not limited to ECM or MEMSmicrophones.

In one exemplary embodiment of this invention two membranes are mountedonto a shared substrate 30. In a non-limiting example, the firstmembrane 10 is configured with a maximum SPL between about 120 dB andabout 140 dB. The second membrane 20 is similar to the first membraneexcept it is desensitized and configured with a maximum SPL that is, forexample, about 20-30 dB less than the first membrane 10. Thedesensitization of the second membrane 20 provides a lower chance ofsaturation. The second membrane 20 may be desensitized due to itsconfiguration, for example, via use of a thicker membrane and/orincreased stiffness around the periphery of the membrane. Alternatively,the capacitive gap between the second membrane 20 and the back-plate ofthe substrate 30 may be increased. This is the preferred method as italso serves to reduce the air-squeeze noise between the second membrane20 and the back-plate of the substrate 30. The air-squeeze noisecontributes to the self-noise of microphone, and it is advantageous toreduce this type of self-induced noise.

In another exemplary embodiment the device 5 outputs both the electricalsignals, corresponding to either the first membrane 10 and the secondmembrane 20 or the normal sensitivity path 11 and the high amplitudepath 21 in one PDM stream 13A. The PDM stream 13A is output fromcircuitry such as ASIC 40. The electrical signal outputs of the PDMstream 13A may be scanned for evidence of clipping. Generally, at themaximum allowable output signal level (e.g., that allowed by the ADC(s)and digital processors for example) A signal may be considered clippedwhen the peak level has reached 0 dBFS. However, in the decimation of aPDM stream the correlation between the output signal dBFS values and theoverload point is harder to determine, and will be determined by factorssuch as ADC design, digital processing, and frequency. The scanning maybe performed by ASIC 40. Clipping is evidence of signal distortion. Theelectrical signal output with the least amount of clipping may then beselected for saving and/or for further processing.

In another exemplary embodiment the device 5 outputs an electricalsignal from one membrane. The membrane may be chosen by a user, via auser interface or switch. Alternatively the device 5 may output only theelectrical signal from the first membrane 10 and upon the electricalsignal having a peak output level of 0 dBFS, the device 5 automaticallyswitches to second membrane 20 for the output. The switching may be donevia circuitry such as ASIC 40 or by another component such as the DP 17Aof UE 17. The ASIC may be further configured to automatically switchback from second membrane 20 to the first membrane 10. This may occurunder one of at least two conditions: 1) where the output from thesecond membrane 20 is analyzed and indicates a SPL that is less than themaximum allowable SPL of the first membrane 10 or 2) where the firstmembrane 10 continues to output a signal that shows an acceptable levelof signal distortion during analysis, for example, a peak dBFS levelthat is less than zero.

In another exemplary embodiment the device 5 outputs an electricalsignal from the first membrane 10. The electrical signal output from thefirst membrane is searched for wind noise. The ASIC 40 may perform thissearching. Upon the discovery of wind noise the device 5 switches thehigh pass filter.

In another exemplary embodiment the device of FIG. 3 is implemented intoa microphone system and communicates with another device. The microphonesystem may output a signal, such as a PDM stream 13A, to a compatibleanother device. The output may be set so that data asserted on a fallingclock edge is a normal sensitivity signal corresponding to the normalsensitivity path 11 (or first membrane 10) and data asserted on therising clock edge is a lowered sensitivity signal corresponding to thehigh amplitude path 21 (or second membrane 20), as is shown in FIG. 6.The data on the rising and falling clock edge may be implemented viceversa as well. This provides the another device an option to choose thedesired sensitivity. Another device may be a mobile device, camcorder,UE 17, or any device capable of housing or controlling audio/videocapture. The another device or circuitry such as ASIC 40 may scan thesignal corresponding to the normal sensitivity path 11 for evidence ofsignal clipping as noted above. In the event that signal clipping ispresent, the high amplitude path 21 signal output could be substitutedfor the normal sensitivity path 11 signal output prior to any type offile saving.

The device of FIG. 3 may be further integrated into a multiplemicrophone array.

In another exemplary embodiment of this invention the switching ortoggling between the first membrane 10 and the second membrane 20 may bedone with one signal line having two states; high and low (1 and 0).Alternatively the switching may be done through a pin that is used forother purposes such as (L/R, Vdd, or Gnd). The first membrane 10 and thesecond membrane 20 may be used in a stereo mode by using a L/R selectionpin. If the L/R selection pin is used for switching than another pin maybe needed to control the stereo mode.

Referring to FIG. 4, in accordance with an exemplary method at Block 4A,there is a step of receiving an acoustic signal at a device 5, and atBlock 4B in response to the received acoustic signal, there is a step ofoutputting electrical signals from a first input audio transducer and asecond input audio transducer, where the second input audio transduceris less sensitive than the first input audio transducer.

The method in paragraph [0050], where the electrical signals output fromthe first input audio transducer and from the second input audiotransducer are in one pulse density modulation stream.

The method in paragraph [0050], further comprising: selecting one ofeither the electrical signal from the first input audio transducer orthe electrical signal from the second input audio transducer from basedon an analysis of the electrical signals.

The method as in paragraph [0050], further comprising: switching betweenthe electrical signal output from the first input audio transducer andthe electrical signal output from the second input audio transducer.

The method as in paragraph [0053], where switching is performed inresponse to a user input.

The method as in paragraph [0053], where switching is performedautomatically in response to circuitry.

The method as in any one of paragraphs [0050] to [0055], where adifference in the sensitivity of the second input transducer is due atleast in part to a configuration of a membrane of the second input audiotransducer.

The method as in any one of paragraphs [0050] to [0055], where adifference in the sensitivity of the second input audio transducer isdue at least in part to a capacitative gap between the second inputaudio transducer and a back-plate of a substrate over which at least thesecond input audio transducer is mounted.

The method as in any one of paragraphs [0050] to [0057], where themethod is performed by a microphone system that is either a microelectro-mechanical system microphone or an electrets condensermicrophone system.

The method as in any one of paragraphs [0050] to [0058], implemented ina mobile device.

It should be further appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of thisinvention pertain to apparatus, which may be embodied as a substrate 30;a first input audio transducer mounted over the substrate 30 andconfigured to output an electrical signal from an acoustic signal; and asecond input audio transducer mounted over the substrate 30 andconfigured to output an electrical signal from an acoustic signal, wherethe second input audio transducer is less sensitive than the first inputaudio transducer.

Referring to FIG. 7, in accordance with an exemplary method at Block 7A,receiving an acoustic signal at device 5; and at Block 7B in response tothe received acoustic signal, there is a step of outputting anelectrical signal from an input audio transducer, where the output fromthe input audio transducer follows a normal sensitivity path and a highamplitude path; and at Block 7C there is a step of outputting electricalsignals from both the normal sensitivity path and the high amplitudepath on one pulse density modulation stream, where the electrical signaloutput from the normal sensitivity path has a higher decibel full scalelevel than the electrical signal output from the high amplitude path.

The method as in paragraph [0061], further comprising: selecting theelectrical signal output from either the high amplitude path or thenormal sensitivity path based on an examination of the pulse densitymodulation stream.

The method as in any one of paragraphs [0061] to [0062], where at leastone of either the high amplitude path or the normal sensitivity pathcontains a high pass filter.

The method as in any one paragraphs [0061] to [0063], implemented in amobile device.

It should be further appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of thisinvention pertain to apparatus, which may be embodied as an input audiotransducer configured to output an electrical signal from an acousticsignal, where the electrical signal passes through a normal sensitivitypath and a high amplitude path; and circuitry configured to output theelectrical signals passed through both the normal sensitivity path andthe high amplitude path on one pulse density modulation stream, wherethe electrical signal output from the normal sensitivity path has agreater decibel full scale level than the electrical signal output fromthe high amplitude path.

The various blocks shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 may be viewed as method steps,and/or as operations that result from operation of computer programcode, and/or as a plurality of coupled logic circuit elementsconstructed to carry out the associated function(s). For example, acomputer readable memory executable by a processor may include programinstructions that when executed by a processor result in the actionsrecited at FIGS. 4 and 7 for processing those signals which are outputfrom the input audio transducer(s).

In general, the various exemplary embodiments may be implemented inhardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combinationthereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, whileother aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may beexecuted by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device,although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects ofthe exemplary embodiments of this invention may be illustrated anddescribed as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorialrepresentation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus,systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in,as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purposecircuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or othercomputing devices, or some combination thereof.

Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoing exemplaryembodiments of this invention may become apparent to those skilled inthe relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, any and allmodifications will still fall within the scope of the non-limiting andexemplary embodiments of this invention.

It should be noted that the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variantthereof, mean any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect,between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one ormore intermediate elements between two elements that are “connected” or“coupled” together. The coupling or connection between the elements canbe physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As employed herein twoelements may be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” together bythe use of one or more wires, cables and/or printed electricalconnections, as well as by the use of electromagnetic energy, such aselectromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region,the microwave region and the optical (both visible and invisible)region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

Furthermore, some of the features of the various non-limiting andexemplary embodiments of this invention may be used to advantage withoutthe corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoingdescription should be considered as merely illustrative of theprinciples, teachings and exemplary embodiments of this invention, andnot in limitation thereof.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method comprising: receiving an acoustic signal;in response to receiving the acoustic signal, outputting electricalsignals from a first input audio transducer and a second input audiotransducer, where the second input audio transducer is less sensitivethan the first input audio transducer; and alternatively selectingeither: a first one of the electrical signals from the first input audiotransducer, or a second one of the electrical signals from the secondinput audio transducer, where the alternatively selecting of the firstor second electrical signals is based, at least in part, on signaldistortion in the first and/or second electrical signals, where adifference in sensitivity of the first input audio transducer relativeto sensitivity of the second input audio transducer produces the firstelectrical signal different from the second electrical signal which isdue, at least in part, to at least one of: a physical configuration of afirst membrane member of the first input audio transducer beingdifferent relative to a physical configuration of a second membranemember of the second input audio transducer, and a capacitive gapbetween the second input audio transducer and a back-plate of asubstrate over which the second input audio transducer is mounted isdifferent relative to a capacitive gap between the first input audiotransducer and the back-plate of the substrate over which the firstinput audio transducer is mounted.
 22. The method as in claim 21 wherethe electrical signals output from the first input audio transducer andfrom the second input audio transducer are in one pulse densitymodulation stream.
 23. The method as in claim 21 where the difference inthe second sensitivity relative to the first sensitivity is due, atleast in part, to the second membrane member being at least partiallythicker and/or stiffer relative to the first membrane member.
 24. Amethod comprising: receiving an acoustic signal; in response toreceiving the acoustic signal, outputting electrical signals from afirst input audio transducer and a second input audio transducer, wherethe second input audio transducer is less sensitive than the first inputaudio transducer based, at least in part, upon the first input audiotransducer comprising a first membrane member to provide a firstsensitivity of the first input audio transducer which is different froma second sensitivity of the second input audio transducer, where thesecond input audio transducer comprises a second membrane member whichhas a different physical configuration relative to the first membranemember; and switching, alternatively, between either the electricalsignal output from the first input audio transducer or the electricalsignal output from the second input audio transducer.
 25. The method asin claim 24 the switching is based, at least in part, on an analysis ofthe electrical signals comprising determining signal distortion in thefirst and/or second electrical signal.
 26. The method as in claim 24where switching is performed in response to a user input.
 27. The methodas in claim 24 where the switching is performed automatically inresponse to circuitry.
 28. The method as in claim 24 where a differencein the second sensitivity of the second input transducer versus thefirst sensitivity of the first input transducer is due, at least inpart, to the physical configuration of the second membrane member of thesecond input audio transducer being at least partially thicker and/orstiffer relative to the physical configuration of the first membranemember of the first input audio transducer.
 29. The method as in claim24 where a difference in the second sensitivity of the second inputaudio transducer relative to the first sensitivity of the first audioinput transducer is due, at least in part, to a first capacitive gapbetween the first input audio transducer and a back-plate of a substratebeing different relative to a second capacitive gap between the secondinput audio transducer and the back-plate of the substrate.
 30. Themethod of claim 24 wherein the switching is based, at least in part, onmonitoring of clipping of the electrical signal output from the firstinput audio transducer and the electrical signal output from the secondinput audio transducer, and selecting the electrical signal with alesser amount of the clipping relative to each other.
 31. An apparatuscomprising: a substrate; a first input audio transducer mounted over thesubstrate, where the first input audio transducer is configured tooutput a first electrical signal based upon an acoustic signal; a secondinput audio transducer mounted over the substrate, where the secondinput audio transducer is configured to output a second electricalsignal based upon the acoustic signal, where the second input audiotransducer is less sensitive than the first input audio transducer; anda selector for selecting either the first electrical signal or thesecond electrical signal, where a difference in the sensitivity of thefirst input audio transducer versus the second input transducer is due,at least in part, to a physical configuration of a first membrane memberof the first input audio transducer being different relative to aphysical configuration of a second membrane member of the second inputaudio transducer.
 32. The apparatus as in claim 31 where the electricalsignals output from the first input audio transducer and the secondinput audio transducer are in one pulse density modulation stream. 33.The apparatus as in claim 31 where the apparatus is a mobilecommunication device which comprises electronic circuitry including atleast one printed wiring board, at least one processor, at least onememory having software, a transmitter and a receiver, and an electronicdisplay.
 34. The apparatus as in claim 31 where the difference in thesensitivity of the first input audio transceiver relative to thesensitivity of the second input transducer is due, at least in part, tothe second membrane member being at least partially thicker and/orstiffer relative to the first membrane member.
 35. The apparatus as inclaim 31 where the difference in the sensitivity of the first inputaudio transducer relative to the second input audio transducer is due,at least in part, to a capacitive gap between the first input audiotransducer and a back-plate of a substrate being different than acapacitive gap between the second input audio transducer and theback-plate of the substrate.
 36. The apparatus as in claim 31 where theselector is configured to alternatively select the first electricalsignal or the second electrical signal based, at least in part, onsignal distortion in the first and/or second electrical signals.
 37. Anapparatus comprising: a substrate; a first input audio transducermounted over the substrate, where the first input audio transducer isconfigured to output a first electrical signal based upon an acousticsignal; a second input audio transducer mounted over the substrate,where the second input audio transducer is configured to output a secondelectrical signal based upon the acoustic signal, where the second inputaudio transducer is less sensitive than the first input audiotransducer; and circuitry configured to alternatively select betweenonly one of either: the first electrical signal from the first inputaudio transducer or the second electrical signal from the second inputaudio transducer, where a difference between a first sensitivity of thefirst input transducer relative to a different second sensitivity of thesecond input transducer is due, at least in part, to at least one of: aphysical configuration of a first membrane member of the first inputaudio transducer being different relative to a physical configuration ofa second membrane member of the second input audio transducer, and acapacitive gap between the first input audio transducer and a back-plateof the substrate being different relative to a capacitive gap betweenthe second input audio transducer and the back-plate of the substrate.38. The apparatus as in claim 37 where the electrical signals outputfrom the first input audio transducer and the second input audiotransducer are in one pulse density modulation stream.
 39. The apparatusas in claim 37 where the circuitry is configured to alternatively selectthe first electrical signal or the second electrical signal based, atleast in part, on signal distortion in the first and/or secondelectrical signals.